December 2, 2019 at 7:04 PM EST

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to tap business executive Kelly Loeffler for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Johnny Isakson (R), according to two people familiar with the matter, a move that has ignited an intraparty fight as allies of President Trump mount a last-minute campaign to pressure the governor to change his mind.

The selection of Loeffler, a longtime Republican donor and financial executive, would defy the wishes of Trump as well as his congressional allies and supporters in conservative media, who have publicly lobbied for Rep. Douglas A. Collins (R) to fill the vacancy. He has been one of the president’s most ardent defenders throughout the House impeachment inquiry.

Trump has privately told Kemp that he favors Collins for the soon-to-be-open Senate seat, according to a separate person familiar with the matter, who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk about private discussions surrounding the pick. Trump on Monday gave Collins a boost of sorts, praising the four-term House lawmaker for defending him on TV.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/georgia-gov-brian-kemp-expected-to-tap-kelly-loeffler-for-senate-seat-setting-up-potential-conflict-with-trump-official-says/2019/12/02/c020fd74-1533-11ea-9110-3b34ce1d92b1_story.html

December 5, 2019 at 9:39 PM EST

Republican business executive Kelly Loeffler was named Wednesday to a soon-to-be-vacated U.S. Senate seat in Georgia by Gov. Brian Kemp (R), following days of tense debate among some leading conservatives about the political novice’s expected selection, her values and her loyalty to President Trump.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/georgia-businesswoman-says-shes-a-pro-trump-conservative-pushes-back-on-gop-criticism/2019/12/04/9acc9494-1609-11ea-a659-7d69641c6ff7_story.html

Johnny Isakson…….